Multiple copy form



R. J. LIEBICH MULTIPLE coPY Foam Filed Juiy 24, 1939 Feb. 10, 1942.

FIGS.

Patented Feb. l0, 1942 MULTIPLE COPY FORM Rudolph J. Liebich, Royal Oak, Mich.

Application `luly 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,244

ti Claims.

This invention relates generally to multicopy forms and refers more .particularly to improvements in record forms embodying a sheet of carbon paper between the adjacent record sheets.

In the manufacture of multicopy forms, it has been customary to staple or otherwise bind the record sheets and carbon paper together along the top edges thereof with a sheet of carbon paper interposed between adjacent record sheets. It has also been common practice to perforate the record sheets along a line extending across the top of the forms below the binding or staples so as to permit the record sheets to be separated from each other at the line of the perforations by grasping the bottom edges of the group of record sheets with one hand and exerting a pull on the sheets while holding the bound `edges of the latter with the other hand. The carbon sheets are not perforated and, as a consequence, these sheets remain intact.

Multicopy forms of the general type set forth above have proved objectionable, particularly in cases where a relatively large number of invoice records are bound together, due to the difficulty encountered in properly separating the record sheets by the application of a reasonable amount of force on the sheets. In an effort to overcome his diiiicult the lengths of the perforations were increased to substantially weaken the joint between the record sheets and binding. However, such practice is objectionable in that the record sheets frequently become detached during handling of the form. Both of the above noted objections have proved a constant source of inconvenience and have appreciably increased the time required in using the form.

With the above in View, the present invention contemplates eliminating the foregoing objections by providing a multicopy form rendering it possible to readily separate the record sheets from each other and from the carbon paper by a relatively simple operation requiring practically no eiort on the part of the user. As a result, the form is more convenient to use and the time required to effect separation of the sheets is reduced to the minimum.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of a multicopy form wherein the usual perforations with the accompanyng disadvantage thereof -are eliminated and wherein accidental disengagement of the record sheets from the binding is prevented,

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a multirecord form rendering it possible to appreciably reduce the Cil width of the portion of the record sheets projecting below the bottom edges of the carbon paper and above the binding. These relatively wide margins are essential in previous types of forms having perforated record sheets in order to permit a firm grip on the record sheets when separating the same from the binder. However, since the present invention permits separation of the record sheets from the binding with very little effort, the margins aforesaid may be substantially reduced and, as la result, a saving in paper is eifected.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a multirecord form embodying the subject matter of this invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the manner in which the record sheets are separated from each other and from the carbon V pap-er.

For the purpose of illustration, I have shown my invention as employed in the manufacture of multicopy invoice forms, although it will be understood that the invention may be advantageously used in any case where it is desired to -bind two or more record sheets together with carbo-n paper inter-posed therebetween.

Upon reference to the drawing, it will be noted that my improved multicopy invoice `form comprises a plurality of invoice record sheets I0 and a series of carbon paper sheets Il. In the present instance, a sheet of carbon paper Il is interposed between adjacent invoice record sheets and all of the sheets are bound together along the top edge thereof by any suitable method of binding. In the specic embodiment of the invention, the top edge portions of the record sheets and the carbon paper are glued together, although stapling, sewing or crimping may be resorted to for accomplishing this result without interfering with the performance of the present invention.

Prior to binding the sheets of the form together, each of the record sheets l0 is fashioned with a relatively short slot or slit I2 of any desired shape or size located adjacent the top of the sheet and extending inwardly from one marginal edge of the sheet. It will, of course, be understood that after the record sheets are bound together with the carbon paper interposed therebetween, the slots I2 assume positions in registration or in alignment with each other, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing,

The purpose of the slots I2 is to permit separation of the record sheets from each other while maintaining the several sheets of carbon paper in assembled relationship through the medium of the binding. In detail, after the desired information has been written on the top record sheet of the form, the form is subjected to a cutting operation along the line designated in Figure 1 by the reference character I3. This line forms a continuation of the slot and serves as a guide to indicate the extent of the cut. This guide line may, however, be omitted. In other words, care is taken to merely cut the sheets along the line I3 up to the inner end of the slot I2 in the top record sheet of the form so that the record sheets are completely severed from each other and the carbon sheets are maintained in assembled relation with the binding for a distance equal to the length of the slot I2.

In order to avoid the danger of the user accidentally cutting the form entirely across the top of the latter, a specially designed cutting device may be provided having means for automatically limiting the extent of cut to the length of the line I3. Although such a device would expedite proper separation of the invoice record sheets from the binding, nevertheless, the same forms no part of the present invention and, accordingly, is not shown herein.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, cutting the form along the line I3 up to the inner` end of the slot I2 in the uppermost record sheet completely separates the record sheets from the carbon paper and permits removal of the record sheets with little or no effort. In this connection, it will be noted that the record sheets Ill are provided with a relatively narrow margin I4 at the bottom thereof which projects beyond the adjacent bottom edges of the carbon sheets. The purpose of the margin M is to permit the user to grasp the record sheets and eiect separation of the latter as a unit from the carbon paper. However, since it is not necessary to exert an appreciable pull on the record sheets to separate the same from the binding, the margins I4 at the bottom of the record sheets may be relatively narrow, as compared to conventional perforated forms wherein the free margin at the bottom of the sheets must be sufciently wide to permit rmly gripping the sheets/by the user. As a result, the present invention renders it possible to reduce the waste space on the forms to a minimum and this is important in that it contributes toreducing the cost of the forms.

Thus, from the foregoing, it will be observed that I have provided a relatively simple, inexpensive multicopy form constructed to permit the record sheets to be readily separated from each other and from the interposed carbon paper. It will also be noted that the construction of the multicopy form not only insures easy separation of the record sheets from the form but, in addition, provides such a firm, stable connection between the record sheets and binding that accidental separation of the record sheets from the binding is practically impossible.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A multicopy form comprising a plurality of imperforate record sheets and a series of imperforate carbon sheets bound together along one edge with a carbon sheet interposed between adjacent record sheets, said record sheets only having registering portions spaced inwardly from the bound edges and being of less width than the carbon sheets whereby separating the form at the reduced portion along a line substantially parallel to the bound edges of the record sheets separates the latter sheets from each other and leaves the carbon sheets bound together.

2. In a multicopy form, an imperforate record sheet and an imperforate sheet of carbon paper arranged in superposed relation with one edge of the record sheet coextensive with the adjacent edge of the carbon sheet, the coextensive edges of said sheets being bound together throughout the length thereof, one only of said sheets being cut inwardly a limited distance from one edge of said one sheet in a direction parallel to said coextensive edges, whereby separating the form along a line extending from the edge opposite said cut edge to the inner end of the cut portion of said one sheet separates the record sheet from the carbon sheet and leaves the carbon sheet intact with the binding.

3. A multicopy form comprising a plurality of imperforate record sheets and a series of imperorate carbon sheets bound together along one edge with a carbon sheet interposed between adjacent record sheets, said record sheets only being slit to the exclusion of the adjacent carbon sheet for a limited distance along a line extending substantially parallel to the bound edges of the sheets, the slits in the record sheets registering with one another and being spaced a distance inwardly from the bound edge portions of the sheets whereby severing the record sheets along a line parallel to said bound edges and at a distance from said bound edges equal to the inward spacing of the line of the slits to the inner ends of the slits provides for separating all of the record sheets from each other and leaves the carbon sheets attached to the binding for a distance equal to the length of the slits.

4. In a multicopy form, a plurality of imperforate record sheets and a series of imperforate carbon sheets arranged in superposed relation with a carbon sheet interposed between adjacent record sheets, the edges of the sheets at one side of the form being coextensive and being bound together throughout the length thereof, said record sheets only being slit to the exclusion of the adjacent carbon sheet for a limited distance from an edge of the sheet adjacent the bound edge and along a line extending substantially parallel to the bound edges of the sheets, the slits in the record sheets registering with one another and being spaced a distance inwardly from the bound edges of the sheets whereby severing the form along a line parallel to said bound edges and at a distance from said bound edges equal to the spacing of the line of the slits aforesaid to the inner end of the slit in the top record sheet separates all the record sheets from each other and leaves the carbon sheets attached to the binding for a distance equal to the length of the slits.

RUDOLPH J. LIEBICH. 

